Getting started

Sim Racing

Safety

Skills and Knowledge

Tracks

Misc

Simulator racing has been gaining popularity over the last few years as both an affordable entry point into motorsports as well as a tool to hone one’s driving ability. With a wide range of tracks, cars, and competition to choose from, it’s easy to see why sim racing is becoming more popular for both novices and professionals alike.

If you are seeking an affordable way to experience motorsports or aiming to improve your racing skills on a new track, we highly recommend sim racing. Prominent F1 drivers such as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris actively engage in sim racing, even taking part in online competitions. This means you might even encounter them on the virtual track.

Two things that newcomers to sim racing may find intimidating:

In this article, we will help understand the different components needed for a sim racing rig and recommend top setups for HPDE and road racing motorsports.

Track Manual may earn a commission on any product links in this article.

Before diving into the different sim racing components, it is important to determine which gaming platform you will use: Console or PC.

Now that you have determined the gaming platform for your rig, it's time to find the appropriate steering wheel setup. This component is the heart of your rig and arguably the most crucial part of the sim racing experience. Just like in a real car, the primary means of controlling and receiving feedback from your vehicle will be through the wheel.

Keep in mind that wheel base and steering wheel don’t exactly mean the same thing. A wheel base is the chunky block that the steering wheel attaches to, which receives your steering input and also provides feedback to the steering wheel as if you’re driving a real car.

Basic: No Force Feedback

These steering wheel bases are the most basic and offer very little of the motorsport experience. They are the cheapest wheel bases available, which is evident in their construction and feel. We do not recommend these and advise purchasing one with at least force feedback.

Mid-level: Force Feedback (Belt-Driven)

These are the basic starter steering wheel bases, which usually come as a complete package with steering wheel and pedals. While the force feedback is nice for simulating traction and road feedback, it is ultimately quite weak and not very communicative. However, these wheels are affordable and provide a great way to dip your toes in sim racing.

Our recommendations:

Advanced: Direct Drive (DD)

For those seeking a more realistic experience, direct drive wheels are the best option. These wheels, made of premium materials, provide a much more immersive experience compared to force feedback wheels. Direct drive wheels come in different levels with varying degrees of immersion. The more powerful the wheel, the more realistic the feedback, but also the higher the cost.

Direct drive units typically consist only of the wheel base, without a built-in wheel. This allows for greater customization, as you can choose a steering wheel that suits your preferences (e.g., F1 wheel, rally wheel, GT4 wheel, etc.). Steering wheels can be easily swapped out, providing multiple options for different driving experiences.

Our recommendations:

After selecting your wheel, you will need to find a place to mount it.

Desk/Table

The simplest setup is to use your existing furniture. However, repeatedly mounting your steering wheel to your desk can be tiresome and may damage the desk. Therefore, we recommend getting a wheel stand if you don't have enough space on your desk.

Wheel Stand

These are affordable options that allow you to mount your wheel base, and sometimes pedals as well, to an independent stand in front of your screen. It is important to have a chair that does not spin and can be immobilized in some way (such as using sticky pads or placing it on a large carpet), because you don’t want to move around when pressing hard on the pedals. The advantage of wheel stands is that they can be easily stored away when not in use.

Our recommendations:

Sim Rig Cockpit

A sim rig cockpit offers complete customization of the setup and ergonomics of your rig. It can be tailored to your specific needs, including pedal positioning, monitors, and seat. While it is the most expensive option, ranging from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand, it provides the ultimate racing experience. A sim rig cockpit is highly recommended for high-powered DD wheel bases.

Our recommendations:

Pedals are available in various styles and price ranges, with higher-priced pedals offering better responsiveness. It is important to ensure that your pedals are compatible with your platform and rig.

We recommend opting for load cell pedals, which calculate brake pressure based on the force applied to the pedal. Cheaper pedals rely on the distance the pedal is pressed, which is much less realistic.

Our recommendations:

Now that you know the fundamentals of a sim rig, all that's left is to build it and start racing! As you improve, you can always upgrade your rig to match your skills or enhance immersion, such as adding motion and tactile feedback.